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When a car is washed on the grass, the soapy water filters through the soil, to the groundwater and into a stream. The soil basically acts as a filter, absorbing a lot of the phosphates in the soap and protecting the stream.
When a car is washed on pavement, the soapy water washes right into the storm drain, which goes right into the stream, unfiltered. Which means the stream receives a large pulse of high phophate soapy water. In a slow moving stream, or one full of fish, this can lead to algal blooms and possibly fish kills.
If the city has this ordinance, obviously they've had problems with water quality in the past. So they're trying to prevent as much pollution from going into the drains as possible.
The students could wash the cars on the grass, or perhaps do something else to raise money for their field trip.
Soap isn't good for streams, for the same reason it's not good for an aquarium. It dissolves the natural slime coat on the fish, making them more susceptible to diseases and parasites.Charity car washes are not allowed in San Antonio unless they're held at a commercial car-washing facility, because it wastes water and we've been in a drought for years. The kids here have found alternate means of fundraising.
I understand you feel passionately about this issue, but are you saying you don't know if there are environmentally friendly car-washing soaps? Phosphate-free laundry detergents have been on the market for decades. Has nobody thought to make a buck marketing "green" car-washing soap?
</p>As for who would monitor what kind of soap the kids use, why the adults in charge would. Somebody in the school administration has to authorize this type of activity in the first place.</p>
And who is going to take on the responsibility of fines and clean up if the kids decide to use something else?
And btw, just because something is marketed as "green" does not remotely mean it is non-toxic. He'll, the term non-toxic means nothing when it comes to waterways.
I don't know how else to explain it you than to say yet again, any degreaser aka soap, is toxic to waterways and aquatic life.
how about oil from bp spill,the millions of barrels, is this nutritious to aquatic life?
I have worked at the macondo wellhead. It was an environmental disaster.
But point source pollution is negligible compared to non point source. That is a fact.
Quote:
if not, the chemical dispersant used by the cleanup crews(gov't), was the millions of gallons of that stuff good for aquatic life?
but these little extremists thought that they could just wash cars, disgusting.
Again, it isn't about one particular car wash it's about the millions of cars being washed by millions of people who think their small amount of pollution is harmless because they ignore the fact that it is an issue of magnitude.
Fact: Nonpoint source pollution is the LEADING cause of pollution and degradation of water quality in this country.
This is such a first world problem. LOL. If the worst thing that happens to some kids is that they have to think of another fundraiser I have the world's smallest violin to play in order to display my utter despair at their plight. Seriously, this is a small price to play for a healthier environment. Can we not tolerate even the smallest disruption to our lives anymore? Too much whining out there.
And those carwashes also use up a great deal of water. I'm in agreement with not allowing them. A lot of carwash companies offer fundraising where you sell the voucher to their establishment, and you both split the money. Water is reused, toxins are reduced, and funds are raised. win/win
I think this ban is stupid. Charity carwashes (having them or not) will not impact the environment. I think the government should focus their time on things more important, like crime.
I wash my car in the driveway. I do not feel bad and I do not feel I am killing the environment.
I hadn't realized even the eco-soaps were damaging!
Maybe the kids could still clean windows, or vacuum cars?
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